Key carrying case



Aug. 5, 1 952 F. W. BALDWIN KEY CARRYING CASE Filed June 14, 1950 INVENTOR Henna. MBnwmIv' fir TORNEY! Patented Aug. 5, i952 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE KEY CARRYING case Francis Baldwin, Huntingdon, Pa. Application June 14, 1950, Serial No. 168,101 a frequently become entangled with each other,

making it difficult to gain free access to a desired key. Moreover, present types of key cases-are relatively expensive to manufacture because of the swivels, and the metal plates usually employed for supporting the snap hooks.- In some types of key cases which eliminate entangling snap hooks and the like, the structures are relatively bulky and expensive to manufacture because of the number of parts employed and the number of steps which must be performed in the assembling of the devices.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a simplified type of articlecarrying case, and particularly a key case, which may be folded substantially as flat as a handkerchief and accordingly is comfortable to carry in the pocket, and which is adapted to carry a substantial number of keys. I

A further object is to provide a key case for carrying a number of keys, the casebeing so arranged as to its parts as to positively prevent any twisting or entangling of the keys and the supporting means therefor. I

A further object is to provide such a device wherein the keys remain lined up in perfect order, each in a position to be readily grasped and inserted in a lock. Y

A further objectis to provide a key case for carrying a substantial number of keys wherein the flexibility of the body of the device and the structure of the means for holding individual keys readily permits the free use of any selected key without interference from any of the parts of the device or any of the key carriedtherebyJ A further object is-to provide a folding key case wherein two body sectionsare adapted to be folded into proximity to eachother and wherein Claims. (Cl. 150-40) each'body section is adapted to carry'a plurality I of keys, the parts being so arranged that the keys carried by one body section are staggered with relation to the keys carried by the other body section so as to minimize the thickness and bulk of the device. I

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent'during the course of the following description. J I I T I In the drawing, Ihave shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the device is made,

Figure 2 is a plan View of the finished device showing keys in position therein,

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of parts being shown in elevation, and

Figure 4 is a face view of the device from one side thereof, the case being shown closed and the positions of keys therein being indicated by dotted lines.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral I6 designates the body of the device as a whole which may be made of any suitable material, preferably highly flexible, such as leather, imitation leather or various types of flexible sheet plasticswhich are readily available. The body is adapted to be folded along a line II transversely of the body and centrally of its length to form body sections I2, and I3, preferably equal in size and shape. The free ends of these sections are provided with openings I4 to receive the sections of a" snap fastener, such a device preferably being used to maintain the casein closed position.

Along one edge of the body within the length of the body section I3, the materialof the body.

is out along lines I5 to form a plurality of adjacent tabs I6, preferably having their outer edges curved as shown in Figure 1. The corners of the body sections [2 and I3 are preferably curved as at IT to eliminate sharp corners, and the tab I6 adjacent the curved corner I? of the section I3 is similarly curved as at I8. The inner ends of the cuts I5 terminate approximately in the line of the adjacent edge of the body sections I2 and I3. The tabs are adapted to be bent in such line as at I9 to lieover the section I 3. g

Projecting from the edge of thesection I2 opposite the tabs I6 is a plurality of similar tabs 22 formed by cutting the body of the device along lines 23 the inner edges of which terminate coincident with the bottom line of the body sections as viewed in Figure 1. The tabs 22 are adapted to be folded over lines 24 to lie over the body section I2. Whereas the tabs I6 are offset outwardly from the fold line II, the opposite is true of the tabs 22, the inner edge of the inner tab 22 being adjacent the line I I and the outer edge of the outermost tab 22 being spaced from the end of the body section I2, for a purpose to be described. Intermediate theirends, the tabs I6 and 22 are slotted as at 26, the slots of each set of tabs being in alignment with each other. Each of the tabs is adapted to be folded inwardly along a line 2? Figure 2,

passing through the centers of the slots of the associated tabs. Inwardly of each slot 26, each tab is provided with a punched opening 30, and a similar opening 3| is formed outwardly of each slot 26, the openings 30 and 3| of each tab being equidistantly spaced from the slot 26 thereof.

In the making of the finished device, complementary snap fastener elements 35 and 36 are stamped into the openings 33 and 3|, the stud elements of the fasteners being fixed in the openings 30 and the socket elements in the openings 3|. Similar complementary snap elements 31 and 38 are stamped in the openings IA. The tabs l6 and 22 are then folded over the respective body sections l3 and I2 along the lines l9 and 24, whereupon each set of tabs is stitched as at 43 parallel to and adjacent the respective lines l9 and 24, as shown in Figure 2. The tabs I6 and 22 are thus fixed solely along one end adjacent the edges of the body. sections to lie thereover while being free to be lifted upwardly therefrom. The device is now ready for use.

Operation Keys 4i have the shanks thereof inserted through the slots 26, whereupon the openings .42 in the heads 43 of the keys are placed over the studs of the fastener elements 35. The free ends of the tabs are then moved downwardly for the connection in the usual manner of the fastener sockets 33 with the studs 35.

As previously stated, the tags iii are offset outwardly from the center fold line I I, while the tabs 22 are offset inwardly toward such fold line and away from the end of the body S ction l2. When keys are in position in the case, therefore, the keys carried by the two sets of holders formed by the tabs are oifset from each other as shown in dotted'lines in Figure 4, the free ends of each key being offset from adjacent keys and from the snap fasteners by which the keys are held in position. Accordingly, the bulk of the device is greatly minimized. When a key is to be used, thebody sections l2 and [3 are opened asshown in Figure 2, whereupon any key may be selected for use. Such key may be swung upwardly away from its associated body section, the tab of such key swinging upwardly about the stitching 40 thereof. The key may be held relative to the fingers by grasping opposite sides of the folded tab sections to which the key is fixed, and the r flexibility of the device permits the remaining keys, their tabs and associated body portions to drop from the key being used. Accordingly, the key may be used with substantially the same facility as if it were not connected to the key case.

The folded tabs with the shanks of the keys projecting through the slots 26 serve to hold the keys in proper relative position without entanglement of any of the parts. Thus any key readily may be selected. The snap fastener sockets 35 are preferably differently colored-to facilitate selection of the proper key. However,

the user readily can memorize the positions of 1 the various keys, and their free accessibility-permits the ready selection of anykey in the dark.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the body of the device and the tabs are made of a'single sheet of flexible material which may be stamped in a single operation to provide the blank shown .in Figure 1. fastener elements is a rapid machine operation and the fastenin elements are economical in use, both from the standpoint of cost price and the time and labor required for their insertion, Accordingly, the entire. device may be produced The insertion of the very economically; it folds relatively thin to be carried in comfort; the keys never become twisted but always remain in proper position for selection, and any key readily may be picked for use. Keys also readily may be changed merely by loosening the snap fastener of the key to be removed, whereupon the key has its shank withdrawn from the associated slot 26. A new key may be slipped in position in the manner stated.

It is preferred that snap fasteners be used at the points indicated, but of course any desired securing means may be employed. Snap fasten- 'ers having somewhat elongated studs are readily available on the market, and preferably are used as the fastening means for the keys to provide the desired clearance for the heads of the keys, as will be apparent.

able intermediate its ends to form two body sections overlying each other, and a key holding device carried by each body section, each key holding device comprising a flexible flap secured at one extremity to one edge of the associated body section and being foldable intermediate its ends, and fastening means for securing the, two portions of each flap to each other when folded, each flap at the, fold .therein having an elonated slot for the projection therethrough of a key shank, said flaps being secured to QPDQSite edges of the twov body sections and being arranged differentdistances from the fold in said body to be ofiset, from each other when said body sections are folded together to minimize the thickness ,of the device.

2. A key carrying case. comprising a body foldable transversely thereof to provide relatively overlying body sections. and a, key holding device carried by one body section, said device comprising a flexible strip folded along a line intermediate its ends to provide upper and lower flap portions and said strip being providedalong such, folded line with an elongated slot. saidstripbeing fixed tov said one body section solely adjacent the,

-- extremity of the lower portion of said strip re-- mote from. said slot whereby said strip is adapted to be swung upwardly from said one body Section, and a fastening .device for securing said portions of said strip together, saidv fastening device comprising a stud ofa size and length adaptsecured along: one. extremity along a longitudinal edge of: the associated-body section, each flap intermediate the ends thereof having a slottransversely thereof along the line of which the flap is foldable. to provide an upper portion. overlying an under portion, Said" flap: being secured. to the, associated body section solely adiacent the extremity of" said under portion remote from said slotwhereby each flap is adapted. to. swing .outwardly'from its associated bodysection, and fastening means for securing the upper portion of each flap to the under :por-- tion thereof. such means comprising a stud adapted to be; arranged in the opening inthe head of a key shank of, which projects through said slot, all of the flaps of one section being secured along one longitudinal edge thereof and all of the flaps of the other body section being secured along the opposite longitudinal edge thereof and the two sets of flaps being offset from each other when said body is folded to minimize the thickness of the carrying case.

4. A key case comprising a flexible body bendable intermediate its ends to form two body sections overlying each other, and key holding devices secured to opposite edge portions of each body section, each key holding device comprising 5. A blank for an article carrying case com- 3 prisingan elongated flexible body having parallel longitudinal edges and adapted to be folded transversely intermediate its length to form a pair of body sections, and a plurality of article carrying flaps formed integral with said body and projecting from opposite edges Of the respective body sections, the flaps of each body section, when the latter are folded together, being offset from the flaps of the other body section.

FRANCIS W. BALDWIN.

7 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,508,273 Davidson Sept. 9, 1924 1,719,120 Miles July 2, 1929 1,877,909 LEnfant Sept. 20, 1932' 1,877,911 LEnfant Sept. 20, 1932 2,172,883 Wege Sept. 12, 1939 2,243,556 Felder May 27, 1941 2,312,132 Swanson Feb. 23, 1943 

